Description:
The gas core reactor requires the establishment of stable and unique flow patterns. A recent series of room temperature flow tests have studied the hydrodynamics, particularly involving gases of differing densities. In an actual operating gas core reactor, the central gas of vaporized uranium will have a much higher density than the surrounding coolant. Testing was done in two different sized chambers (18 inch and 36 inch diameter) to study hydrodynamic scaling. Air was employed as the ''coolant'' gas. Air, argon, and freon, smoked for identification, was used to simulate the fuel. A variety of injectors at various locations in the cavity were employed. (auth)